Tesla founder and billionaire Elon Musk’s post on banning EVMs sparked off a debate in India too. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi referred to an incident from Mumbai, labeling EVMs as 'black boxes' that should be questioned. Moreover, other opposition parties have also raised questions about the reliability of EVMs.
EVMs have not been without their controversies. They have been the subject of debate over time, and the Election Commission has repeatedly offered explanations. It becomes imperative to know whether EVMs can be unlocked using a mobile phone or OTP or could they be connected through a wireless device? Let's delve into these questions...
Who manufactures the EVM?
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a PSU under the Ministry of Defence, manufactures Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for various types of elections. This company produces state-of-the-art electronic products and systems for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The EVM comprises two units: the Control Unit (CU) and the Ballot Unit (BU). The CU handles the complete control over voting, the conduct of voting, display of total votes, and announcement of results. It provides all the details with the push of a few buttons. The other is the simple voting device, the BU, which displays a list of candidates complete with names and symbols. Voters must press the button next to the name of their desired candidate.
Is hacking an EVM possible?
Hacking refers to gaining control over computer network security systems for unlawful purposes. The Election Commission has made it clear that EVMs are non-hackable. They are standalone machines not connected to any networks by wire or wirelessly. Once programmed, you cannot alter its content, meaning no other software can be written or modified on it.
Can EVMs be manipulated remotely via wireless communication?
It is alleged possible by substituting the original display module with another equipped for wireless communication or by inserting an extra circuit board that could communicate with an external unit via wireless, manipulating the CU display that announces the results. The Election Commission asserts that such changes would require multiple accesses to the EVM post-first level checks, which is impossible given the stringent security measures. Additionally, any tampering with the display unit would put the EVM into factory mode.
Can EVM memory be tampered with?
The accusation is that voting data can be altered by clipping a memory manipulator integrated circuit (IC) onto the memory chip where votes are stored. But access to both the control unit and the security circles surrounding it is ensured by CCTV coverage and strict surveillance from representatives of the candidates. Memory is enclosed within the microcontroller, which is housed in the display unit, and any tampering attempt would send the EVM into factory mode.
Can EVMs be unlocked using OTP or Bluetooth?
Following the Mumbai EVM controversy, the Electoral Officer of Mumbai tweeted, reassuring that EVMs do not require OTPs (one-time passwords) for unlocking as they are non-programmable and do not support wireless communication. They are standalone units without the capability to connect to external devices, either wired or wirelessly, equipped with advanced technical features to eliminate any possibility of manipulation.
